ENG_C2.1405R
Skyscrapers
Urban Life
Reading & Writing
Level C2
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ENG_C2.1405R
Skyscrapers - Outline
Content
The world's tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, stands at 829.9 m tall in Dubai. This
lesson will teach you the history of skyscrapers and how architecture defines a city.
Learning Outcomes
• Learn the definition of a “skyscraper.”
• Read about the history of skyscrapers and their relation to cities.
• Discuss various implications regarding the construction of skyscrapers.
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ENG_C2.1405R
Text
Skyscrapers are exceptionally tall
buildings that often dominate the
skylines of large cities. They are
generally filled with offices and
apartments, built to provide as
much work and living space as
possible in areas where horizontal
space is scarce and extremely
expensive.
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Text
There is no standard height requirement for a
building to be labeled a skyscraper. However,
“skyscrapers” in modern times are generally
considered to be taller than “high-rises.” For
example, a building with twenty-five stories would
most likely be considered a high-rise, while a
building with thirty-five stories might be considered
a skyscraper.
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Text
As such, it could be said that the term
“skyscraper” is relative to height of the skyline in
which the building exists. Buildings reaching
heights beyond 300 meters, however, are always
called skyscrapers. In fact, they are classified as
“supertall” skyscrapers. Similarly, skyscrapers
higher than 600 meters are referred to as
“megatall.”
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Text
The term “skyscraper” originated in the United States
during the late 1800s. At the time, architects began
utilizing steel frames, allowing for the construction of
buildings beyond 10 stories in height. These
“skyscrapers” dominated the skylines of major
American cities, such as New York, Detroit and
Chicago.
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Text
The Home Insurance Building in Chicago was
one of the first of these steel-frame
“skyscrapers.” Constructed in 1885, the
building was just 10 stories high - 42 meters
tall!
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Text
Less than 50 years later, the Empire State
Building was built in Manhattan, New York
City in 1931, becoming the first building in
the world to have more than 100 stories.
At 381 meters tall, the Empire State
Building remained the tallest building in
the world for more than 40 years until it
was surpassed by the World Trade Center
in 1972. Also located in Manhattan, the
World Trade Center was 417 meters tall.
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Text
Comparatively, the tallest building in the world
today is the Burj Khalifa, a “megatall”
skyscraper in Dubai. Completed in 2010, the
Burj Khalifa is 828 meters tall - nearly twice as
tall as the World Trade Center and twenty
times as tall as the Home Insurance Building in
Chicago!
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Text
As modern-day skyscrapers continue to
reach incredible, new heights, architects are
constantly confronted with new challenges.
Factors that must be taken into
consideration include increasing wind
pressures, fire hazards and stability issues
in the face of natural disasters, such as
earthquakes.
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Vocabulary
Empire State Building
skyscraper
World Trade
Center
high-rise
Burj Khalifa
skyline
story
fire hazards
steel frame
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wind pressure
stability
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Vocabulary
1) to dominate
2) to utilize
3) to take into
consideration
4) to be considered (to be
something)
5) to surpass
6) to be confronted with
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7) scarce
8) relative
9) “super-tall”
10) “mega-tall”
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Open Vocabulary
Were there any other words or phrases that you found
difficult or have questions about?
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Exercises
Writing
Answer the following question(s).
• What skyscrapers are you familiar with? Are there any
skyscrapers near where you live?
• Many skyscrapers have observation decks, from which people
are able to see for miles and miles. Have you ever been to the
top (or observation deck) of a skyscraper?
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Exercises
Writing
Answer the following question(s).
• What distinguishes a skyscraper from other buildings,
such as “high-rises”?
• What are some reasons for building skyscrapers, as
opposed to shorter, “high-rise” buildings?
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Exercises
Speaking
Fill in the table with pros and cons of
building skyscrapers
Pros
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Cons
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Review
1.
skyscraper
an exceptionally tall building
2.
skyline
distant view of the outline of a cities buildings and features
3.
“mega-tall”
a skyscraper with a height exceeding 600 meters
4.
Burj Khalifa
currently the tallest skyscraper in the world
Skyscrapers dominate the skylines of many large cities
across the world. Since the first “skyscrapers” were built
in the late 1800s, taller and taller buildings have
constantly been constructed.
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Exercises
Writing
Match the words to their meanings
to keep in mind when
making a decision◻
to exceed◻
to be regarded (as)◻
to make use of ◻
to be in a superior position ◻
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◻ to dominate
◻ to utilize
◻ to surpass
◻ to take into consideration
◻ to be considered (to be)
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Exercises
Speaking
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate
words. Continues on the next slide.
steel frame – high-rise – “super-tall” skyscraper – skyline –
story – “mega-tall” skyscraper – stability – wind pressure
•
•
•
•
At 828 meters tall, the Burj Khalifa is an example of a
________.
Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, can threaten the
________ of a skyscraper.
A tall building that is too short to be considered a skyscraper
is called a ________.
The Home Insurance Building in Chicago was a 10-________
“skyscraper.”
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Exercises
Speaking
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate
words. From previous slide.
steel frame – high-rise – “super-tall” skyscraper – skyline –
story – “mega-tall” skyscraper – stability – wind pressure
• At the time of its construction in 1931, the Empire State
Building dominated the New York City ________.
• The development of the ________ allowed for the
construction of taller and taller skyscrapers.
• A building between 300 and 600 meters is considered to be a
________.
• Due to the high altitude of skyscrapers, architects must take
________ into consideration.
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Exercises
Writing
Finish the sentences
The biggest difficulty that
comes along with building a
skyscraper is...
The construction of taller and
taller skyscrapers in the 21st
Century is
necessary/unnecessary
because...
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Exercises
Writing
True or false?
The Burj Khalifa was the tallest building in the world for more than 30
years between 1931 and 1972.
a) True
b) False
A building over 600 meters tall is a “mega-tall” skyscraper.
a) True
b) False
A 25-story building would generally be considered a “high-rise.”
a) True
b) False
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Exercises
Writing
Answer the following question.
A “mega-tall” skyscraper known as the Kingdom Tower is
currently under construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is
currently planned to be the first skyscraper to reach one
kilometer in height – almost three times as tall as the
Empire State Building! Do you think that architects will ever
reach a physical limit to the height of skyscrapers?
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Thank you
We would like to thank
the following sources for their content
Text
Skyscraper,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/skyscraper,
Retrieved at 15.2.2015, Creative Commons
license
Images
Shutterstock – ID 197867252
Shutterstock – ID 178041056
Shutterstock – ID 88550854
Burj Khalifa,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa,
Retrieved at 15.2.2015, Creative Commons
license
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Thank you
for choosing to learn
with
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